APRIL 22, 2020 |  BY ANDI FETZNER

At Origins, we encourage self-reflection as we navigate advocacy during this social justice revolution. While we are all in this storm together, we recognize the reality that we are not all in the same boat. In scrolling through social media this last week, I came upon a poem that speaks to this truth. The author is unknown.

“WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT…”

I heard that we are in the same boat.

But it’s not like that.

We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat.

Your ship can be shipwrecked and mine might not be.

Or vice versa.

For some, quarantine is optimal: a moment of reflection, of re-connection. Easy, in flip flops, with a whiskey or tea.

For others, this is a desperate crisis.

For others, it is facing loneliness.

For some, peace, rest time, vacation.

Yet for others, Torture: How am I going to pay my bills?

Some were concerned about a brand of chocolate for Easter (this year there were no rich chocolates).

Others were concerned about the bread for the weekend, or if the noodles would last for a few more days.

Some were in their “home office”.

Others are looking through trash to survive.

Some want to go back to work because they are running out of money.

Others want to kill those who break the quarantine.

Some need to break the quarantine to stand in line at the banks.

Others to escape.

Others criticize the government for the lines.

Some have experienced the near-death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it, some are not sure their loved ones are going to make it, and some don’t even believe this is a big deal.

Some of us who are well now may end up experiencing it, and some believe they are infallible and will be blown away if or when this hits someone they know

Some have faith in God and expect miracles during 2020.

Others say the worse is yet to come.

So, friends, we are not in the same boat.

We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different.

And each one will emerge, in his own way, from that storm.

Some with a tan from their pool. Others with scars on the soul (for invisible reasons).

It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, more than looking, seeing.

See beyond the political party, beyond biases, beyond the nose on your face.

Do not underestimate the pain of others if you do not feel it.

Do not judge the good life of the other, do not condemn the bad life of the other.

Don’t be a judge.

Let us not judge the one who lacks, as well as the one who exceeds him.

We are on different ships looking to survive.”

Let everyone navigate their route with respect, empathy and responsibility.

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In previous videos, we’ve talked about this pandemic having the potential to cause toxic stress. This poem describes a trauma-informed approach in how we understand one another. At Origins, as our name suggests, we teach the perspective of looking backwards to our origins, to understand where we are at and where we are going. Starting with The Basics, we offer a process through which anyone can make the shift into a trauma-informed approach.

Brené Brown explains shame, which is often a direct product of trauma, as growing exponentially with “secrecy, silence, and judgment.”   Each of us started out somewhere and has taken our own path. What each of us can do is become aware of our own origins and path by taking the ACE and resilience surveys to help us better understand the different challenges and different resources available to each of us or sign up for The Basics and start your journey to learning more.

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Learn more about how YOU can overcome trauma and build resilience in our online courses.

The Basics is a 90-minute online training session helps anyone understand the basic science behind the ACEs framework and what it means to develop a trauma-informed and resilience-building approach. It also provides a shared language that can be applied in a variety of sectors (including schools and education, healthcare and community health centers, law enforcement, social work, child welfare, criminal justice, non-profit, and more) or in a cross-sector setting (such as a community group). By the end of this course, you’ll develop a solid understanding of trauma-informed principles and practices including the following key concepts — a necessary step to take before applying them in your unique setting — and be ready to “graduate” to The Resilience Champion course.

The Resilience Champion is a self-paced professional development course (which includes access to The Basics) that will guide you as you move from trauma-aware to trauma-informed and trauma-responsive. You and/or your team will work through one section each week (or faster or slower, if you prefer) to help you establish a foundation, create goals, and identify concrete steps you can take to sustain trauma-informed practices and principles and a resilience-building approach in your specific setting. You’ll also see cross-sector examples of Resilience Champions and specific strategies that have worked for them, providing inspiration for clear steps to help you get started.